Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
KAMILA
“ I ’m right, guys….right?” I stare at Levi, who visited me after work to get some drinks. In this case, they’re mocktails. Tara and Abe also joined in on the conversation after I finished taking some pictures for our socials.
“I’ve worked as a bartender for fifteen years. People treat me like their therapist all the time, meanin’ I’ve heard some crazy shit. But this one…” Abe pauses as if contemplating. “Yeah, this makes it into the top ten.”
We all look at him with the same question in mind: what the hell is number one?
“Don’t ask,” he huffs out.
Tara leans over the bar. “How do you get any work done with these types of distractions?”
“Well, sleeping is a luxury nowadays with all the studying I have to do.” I shrug and finish the rest of the candy cane mocktail. It’s probably a terrible idea to drink something so sugary before my last Zumba class of the semester.
Too late.
“You want to know what I think?” Levi states. He was the only one able to make it here. Em and Jake are both in study groups. Either way, Levi and I hang out alone sometimes, just like Jake and Em do.
I lay my head on his shoulder. “Yes…no…I don’t know.”
“You’re going to forgive him eventually,” he says with an apologetic smile while I look at him in confusion. “Don’t give me that look, it’s true. Sure, it’ll take time and a lot of effort on his end, but it’s bound to happen. You love the guy.”
The last part of that statement hits me like a freight train.
Abe speaks next, holding back a smile. “I’m with Levi on this one.”
I shift uncomfortably. “I never said I loved him. I’m not sure if I do, and besides, saying it while punching someone doesn’t count in my book.”
“Either way, it’s only been five days. You expressed your dilemmas and pain.” Levi nudges me with his elbow. “You have to admit that what he said to you at the gym was kind of hot.”
Hiding a smile, I nudge him back. He’s right. Cameron’s words left me craving his touch.
“In all seriousness, you know what to do, and you’ll know what you want soon enough.” Levi sighs. “You don’t need my advice anymore, or Jake’s or Em’s.”
He’s right; I don’t need their advice. Most of the time, we don’t even listen to each other’s guidance. Why do friends do that?
We ask them to decipher our issues to give us ways in which we could go about fixing them. And while they take the time and effort into doing that, we either do the complete opposite or take no action at all.
Levi takes a sip of his drink, interrupting my thoughtful question. “That being said, when you guys get together, Jake and I have a little surprise for him.” He smirks behind his glass.
Before I’m able to ask what they have planned, Tara speaks.
“As much fun as this has been, I have to go back to my office and get some work done before I leave for the day.” Tara grabs a bottle of water and starts to walk away when Abe says something.
“I actually have somethin’ to talk to you about, Tara.” He waves at the waitress near us, and she skips towards the bar. “Here, get some practice in.” He hands her his rag.
Tara walks ahead, and when Abe passes us, he leans down next to me. “Wish me luck.”
I open my mouth in surprise and smile. “It’s about damn time.”
He winks and disappears to the backroom.
Levi and I put our coats on and exit the bar.
“You sure you can’t come to the gym?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I have one more student to teach today, and it’s at the same time as your class.” He wraps his arms around me, kissing me on the forehead. “Either way, don’t hesitate to text or call if you need anything, okay?” I nod against his chest.
Levi Clarke: the sweetest and most loyal guy you’ll ever meet.
“You’re the best.”
“I know,” he whispers, before swinging his guitar case over his back and whistles down the block towards his apartment.
Thursday
Last Zumba class of the semester. It’s an odd feeling. I’ve had a couple of students come up to me from time to time asking about my playlist and Mom’s classes in the city. Some have even asked me if I wanted to do this as a career. I always respond with a no, and I’m definitely sticking to Public Relations, but I don’t think I’ll be ready to give this up when I graduate either. Dancing alone gives me a couple of hours a week to let go mentally and physically. My own kind of meditation .
Meanwhile, my mind is calmer than it was a couple of hours ago. The conversation with Levi at the bar helped, although, as I had guessed, the candy cane mocktail was not a good decision.
There are about five minutes left until everyone starts piling in, and I take advantage to stretch and clear my mind of all things Cameron and Ana. There’s no space left for David anymore, I got my closure with him.
Five minutes later my students are fixing their things and taking their places. I pull my playlist up and turn to speak to the class.
“Hi, everyone, happy end of the semester. It really means a lot to me that so many of you spread the word about this class and have inquired about taking them during your winter and summer breaks. I would also like to?—”
My breath catches when a six-foot-five man with wavy brown hair and matching eyes comes into view. He stands out against all the others. Most of them being women and much shorter men. Although, some jocks join from time to time.
All the girls in the room are taking turns staring at him by either turning their heads or peeking through the large mirrors that surround the studio. His eyes remain on mine, not paying a lick of attention to anyone else. He looks much more confident and comfortable than he did a couple of days ago, like a man on a mission.
I raise a brow. What’s his game? I asked for space, goddammit.
A girl who’s been taking my classes religiously and is always in the front row clears her throat, making me realize that I haven’t finished my speech.
My cheeks heat. “As I was saying, I would also like to announce that because of everyone’s support and attendance, I get to continue teaching next semester.”
The class congratulates me while lightly clapping. My eyes find Cameron standing in the corner of the room, leaning on a wall, also clapping with a smug smile.
Why is he looking at me like that? He’s acting…playful. Is th is his idea of trying to win me back? Taking one class isn’t going to do that. He’s also wearing that one smile that’s been pissing me off all semester.
I then realize that this is a challenge. The man wants my attention, and he’s getting it because he knows I won’t back down.
Alright, two can play this game; we’ve been doing it all semester.
“Excuse me, tall guy in the back,” I announce.
Everyone turns their heads to Cam, and he instantly stiffens. I try hiding my smile.
“Me?” He points at himself.
“Yes, you. I need you to get off the wall and find a spot within the group. Unless you aren’t interested in participating, then you need to leave. As you can see, the class is full.”
The students stare at me with wide eyes. I’ve never called anyone out on something as minuscule as this, but he’s asking for it.
Cameron does as he’s told and stands straight in the center of the room in between thirty other people. The spot doesn’t surprise me.
Attention whore.
“Better?” He smirks.
“Much,” I deadpan. Redirecting my attention to the class, I give some instructions. “Since today is our last day, I compiled a playlist of everyone’s favorite choreographies. Let’s have some fun.”
Picking my phone up, I scroll through the playlist and pick the song that is accompanied by the hardest choreography I’ve made thus far.
Hopefully he can keep up.
“S91” by Karol G blasts through the speakers, and everybody starts moving their feet before I get to my spot, having memorized them during the semester.
The dance is full of footwork, jumping, and hip movements. My body is so used to the steps that I’m able to peek at Cam, who I see is trying his best to keep up but is three steps behind everyone else and has bumped into two people five times now. When our eyes meet, I see him shaking his head slightly with a panicked smile.
I grin in satisfaction.
He knows I’m not going to make any of this easy. The class or us.
A little under an hour later, we’re all stretching, and everyone is out of breath. In their defense, I chose the faster paced songs today. Cameron’s moves weren't bad but his timing was just horrible. Eventually, he moved to a spot where there were fewer people since he almost knocked over the girl next to him. He was a walking safety hazard. Outside I was trying to act pissed, inside I was laughing my ass off, and so was the rest of the room.
The song comes to an end as we all take in one more deep breath.
“Okay, everybody, I hope to see all of you next semester. Good luck on your finals, and happy holidays.”
People slowly start to leave the room as I try to focus on packing my things up, waiting to see what Cameron’s next move is. I’m hoping he’ll quietly leave, although it’s highly unlikely. I still need space no matter how much fun I had giving him a rough time. But that’s probably why he came. Because he’d know I’d enjoy this.
While the last couple of students are leaving, my eyes lock with Cam’s in the mirror.
He smiles confidently and stalks towards me. I expect another speech or apology, but instead he hands me a card.
“What’s this?” I examine it nervously.
He smiles and doesn’t respond, instead he turns and leaves. What the hell was that? I thought he’d take credit, make fun of me, try and talk to me, anything but walk away.
Confused, I open the letter .
Kamila,
Let me start this off by saying I already know that you’re an amazing dancer. I’m also guessing you didn’t take it easy on me today. You probably yelled at some point because I fucked something up, and yet I still enjoyed the yelling because I got to hear the sound of your voice.
If you’re wondering what the hell is going on, let me tell you.
This is one of the many, I guess you could say, gestures, in trying to win you and your trust back while still giving you space to think.
Am I cheating? Probably.
Will it work? I sure fucking hope so.
Like I said yesterday, losing you again isn’t an option.
So, even if it takes weeks, months, or years, I will keep trying. I’ll stay faithful to you while you make your way back to me.
Love always,
Cameron